Trump Hikes Tariffs on China After Rare Earth Export Ban

President Donald Trump’s administration has raised tariffs on Chinese imports to as high as 245 percent, according to an April 15th White House fact sheet. The move follows China’s April 13th decision to halt exports of critical rare earth elements such as terbium, dysprosium, and lutetium, which are essential to U.S. manufacturing and defense sectors. The fact sheet states that China faces up to a 245 percent tariff on imports to the US as a result of its retaliatory actions. Trump also signed an executive order to investigate national security risks from U.S. dependence on foreign critical minerals, citing concerns over “adversarial nations” using supply chains for geopolitical leverage.